Review: Flat Rock Playhouse 'Les Miserables' is stunning

By KATIE WINKLERTimes-News Correspondent

Published: Monday, July 15, 2013 at 9:34 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, July 15, 2013 at 9:34 a.m.

Flat Rock Playhouse’s highly anticipated production of “Les Misérables” certainly meets its great expectations, balancing intricate staging, enduring music and stellar performances to tell one of the greatest stories of ever told.

At the heart of the play, based on Victor Hugo’s epic novel by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil with English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, is the character of convict Jean Valjean, who seems destined for a life of poverty and petty crime until a priest’s simple act of forgiveness changes his life forever.

Rob Evan, in one of the best performances I’ve ever seen at the Rock, is the quintessential Jean Valjean. His presence on stage, like his character, is powerful and commanding, yet also gentle and kind. Evan’s imposing physique is only matched by his outstanding tenor voice. Although all of Evan’s solos are impressive, including the iconic “Bring Him Home,” the standout piece for me was “Who Am I?” In the stirring final moments of the scene, Valjean, whose mantra is mercy, faces his nemesis Javert, a man determined to mete out justice at any cost.

There is no great story without conflict, no successful protagonist without the antagonist, and few are greater in world literature than Javert. Throughout the play, Javert mirrors Valjean’s passion to do good, with his own — to do right. Javert’s obsession is shown forcefully in the solo “Stars,” when Javert calls upon the universe to bring Valjean to justice. The marvelous lyrics are powerfully sung by Josh Davis, who is making his debut at Flat Rock Playhouse.

Another secret to the long success of “Les Misérables” is the extraordinary vocal opportunities it offers multiple characters. Erin Mosher’s Fantine is deeply moving, especially in one of the show’s signature songs, “I Dreamed a Dream,” but equally so in “Come to Me,” a duet with Evan.

Charlie Brady, who was outstanding in “Evita,” returns another fine performance as Marius, the student revolutionary who falls for Valjean’s ward Cosette. His version of “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” is replete with the grief of a lone survivor.

Brady’s duets with Cosette, played by Carolann M. Sanita with her lovely soprano voice, shows the joy of young love, just as the duet “A Little Fall of Rain” with Eponine, wonderfully portrayed by Jane Bunting, reveals its sadness. Eponine’s unrequited love for Marius is simply heart-breaking, especially in Bunting’s solo “On My Own,” one of the highlights of the evening.

FRP favorites Preston Dyar and Linda Edwards provide darkly comic relief through their greedy and seedy characters, the Thenardiers, especially when we first see them during the lively “Master of the House.” They also serve as pivotal antagonists in the play by their abusive treatment of the young Cosette, played alternately by twins Samantha and Clancy Penny, active members of the FRP YouTheatre in their seventh performance on the Rock. “Castle on a Cloud,” whichever twin is singing, is sure to touch your heart if you have one at all. Charming.

Equally charming, but also deeply touching, is the performance by another YouTheater actor, Clarke MacDonald, who plays Gavroche, a young boy who naively becomes part of the rebellion. MacDonald proves himself as a singer in “Look Down” and as an actor in the dramatic scene during the standoff at the barricade with the student rebels.

Brett Stoelker as Enjolras, the leader of the student rebellion, and Scott Richard Foster as Grantiare, a reluctant follower, also deserve mention for excellent performances, especially during stirring scenes such as “Red and Black” and “Do You Hear the People Sing.” While all of the individual performances are standouts, not enough can be said about the power of the scenes when the combined cast, principles and chorus, are involved, rousing the audience to action — making us want to laugh, to cry, to fight for what is good and true.

It takes more than fine performances to create a great show, and “Les Misérables” at FRP is a testament to that fact. With well-directed performances that stir our souls, a set and special effects that produce their own rounds of applause, lighting and costumes that enhance every scene and an unseen orchestra that performs magnificently, “Les Misérables” is sure to be known as one of the finest musical events ever produced at the State Theatre of North Carolina.

Katie Winkler, a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, teaches English composition, literature and creative writing at Blue Ridge Community College and is active in the drama department there as an actor, director and writer.

<p>Flat Rock Playhouse's highly anticipated production of “Les Misérables” certainly meets its great expectations, balancing intricate staging, enduring music and stellar performances to tell one of the greatest stories of ever told. </p><p>At the heart of the play, based on Victor Hugo's epic novel by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil with English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, is the character of convict Jean Valjean, who seems destined for a life of poverty and petty crime until a priest's simple act of forgiveness changes his life forever.</p><p>Rob Evan, in one of the best performances I've ever seen at the Rock, is the quintessential Jean Valjean. His presence on stage, like his character, is powerful and commanding, yet also gentle and kind. Evan's imposing physique is only matched by his outstanding tenor voice. Although all of Evan's solos are impressive, including the iconic “Bring Him Home,” the standout piece for me was “Who Am I?” In the stirring final moments of the scene, Valjean, whose mantra is mercy, faces his nemesis Javert, a man determined to mete out justice at any cost. </p><p>There is no great story without conflict, no successful protagonist without the antagonist, and few are greater in world literature than Javert. Throughout the play, Javert mirrors Valjean's passion to do good, with his own — to do right. Javert's obsession is shown forcefully in the solo “Stars,” when Javert calls upon the universe to bring Valjean to justice. The marvelous lyrics are powerfully sung by Josh Davis, who is making his debut at Flat Rock Playhouse. </p><p>Another secret to the long success of “Les Misérables” is the extraordinary vocal opportunities it offers multiple characters. Erin Mosher's Fantine is deeply moving, especially in one of the show's signature songs, “I Dreamed a Dream,” but equally so in “Come to Me,” a duet with Evan. </p><p>Charlie Brady, who was outstanding in “Evita,” returns another fine performance as Marius, the student revolutionary who falls for Valjean's ward Cosette. His version of “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” is replete with the grief of a lone survivor. </p><p>Brady's duets with Cosette, played by Carolann M. Sanita with her lovely soprano voice, shows the joy of young love, just as the duet “A Little Fall of Rain” with Eponine, wonderfully portrayed by Jane Bunting, reveals its sadness. Eponine's unrequited love for Marius is simply heart-breaking, especially in Bunting's solo “On My Own,” one of the highlights of the evening. </p><p>FRP favorites Preston Dyar and Linda Edwards provide darkly comic relief through their greedy and seedy characters, the Thenardiers, especially when we first see them during the lively “Master of the House.” They also serve as pivotal antagonists in the play by their abusive treatment of the young Cosette, played alternately by twins Samantha and Clancy Penny, active members of the FRP YouTheatre in their seventh performance on the Rock. “Castle on a Cloud,” whichever twin is singing, is sure to touch your heart if you have one at all. Charming. </p><p>Equally charming, but also deeply touching, is the performance by another YouTheater actor, Clarke MacDonald, who plays Gavroche, a young boy who naively becomes part of the rebellion. MacDonald proves himself as a singer in “Look Down” and as an actor in the dramatic scene during the standoff at the barricade with the student rebels. </p><p>Brett Stoelker as Enjolras, the leader of the student rebellion, and Scott Richard Foster as Grantiare, a reluctant follower, also deserve mention for excellent performances, especially during stirring scenes such as “Red and Black” and “Do You Hear the People Sing.” While all of the individual performances are standouts, not enough can be said about the power of the scenes when the combined cast, principles and chorus, are involved, rousing the audience to action — making us want to laugh, to cry, to fight for what is good and true. </p><p>It takes more than fine performances to create a great show, and “Les Misérables” at FRP is a testament to that fact. With well-directed performances that stir our souls, a set and special effects that produce their own rounds of applause, lighting and costumes that enhance every scene and an unseen orchestra that performs magnificently, “Les Misérables” is sure to be known as one of the finest musical events ever produced at the State Theatre of North Carolina. </p><p><i>Katie Winkler, a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, teaches English composition, literature and creative writing at Blue Ridge Community College and is active in the drama department there as an actor, director and writer. </i></p>